Improvement in pocket-book locks



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ F. wEISs,`oF JERSEY cITY HEIGHTS, NEW JEESEY.

'IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOK LOCKS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent N0. 186,510, dated January23, 1877; application filed October 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, FRANZ F. WEISS, of JerseyCity Heights, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and Improved Pocket-Book Lock, of which the following isa specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a front view of apocket-book with my improved pocketbook lock; Fig. 2, aVerticaltransverse section of the same on line .n w, Fig. l; and Figs.3, 4, and 5 are, respectively, detail front and bottom views of the1base-plate, top plate, and side plate of the ock.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The invention relates to an improved pocketbook lock that may be readilyopened and closed by simple pressure on the lock with one hand only, soas to be convenientlyy used by ladies; and the invention consists of aslide-plate that moves along inclined guides of a top plate, andwithdraws a spring-plate with projecting bolt or catch from thesocketfastening ofthe iiap, which socket is retained in a recess of thebaseplate by the catch of the spring-plate. i

In the drawing, A represents the base-plate of a pocket-book lock, whichis attached `by prongs to the body of the pocket-book. The base-plate Ais provided with a recess, a, at the upper part, into which the hollowsocketfastening B of the flap enters Whenpressed down for closing thelock. A spring-plate, C, is guided on the base'plate, and pressed inforward direction by small spiral springs b placed around the side armsb of the plate C, and against perforated guides d ot' the base-plate A.The forward end of the spring-plate C is provided with a bolt or catch,e, that projects over the recess a of the base-plate, and is carriedbackward when the lapsocket is pressed down, being thrown forward .againby the springs b when the socket has entered the recess, so' as to belocked thereby in closed position by the catch. At the rear part of thespring-plate O isa bent-up catch or l'ug, f, which engages theslide-plate D, that is guided, by side projections g along the recessedsides gl, along the centerpart of a top or covering plate, E, secured byfasteningprongs to the base-plate and pocket-book, so as to incloseentirely the operating mechanism.

The top plate E has a small recess, e', for the projecting catch e, andback of the same a downwardlyinclined iiange, g2, along which the frontpart of slide-plate D slides when depressed, so as to guide the same, inconjunction with the side pins g and recesses gl of the top plate, andcarry thespring-plate back when pressing with the finger on theslide-plate.

The backward motion of the springplate releases the socket of the flap,and opens `thereby the pocket-book by simple pressure on theslide-plate.

For closing the pocket book the Hap is pressed down until the socketforces the catch back, and is then lockedV by the forward shooting ot'the same, by the action of the springs.

Thus, an easily-operated and neat lock for pocket-books is furnished,that may be opened or closed by pressing on the slide-plate or on thesocket-fastening of the flap.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A pocketbook lock, composed of baseplate, slidingspring plate and catch, guiding top plate, central slide-plate, andsocket-fast ening of flap, constructed and operated substantially in themanner and for the purpose set forth. 4

2. The combination ot' the socket-shaped flap attachment with thesliding spring-catch and recess of the base-plate, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of the sliding springplate C, having rear lug f, withthe slideplate D, to withdraw catch from socket of flap, substantiallyas set forth.

4. The combination of top plate E, having recessed sides g1 and inclinedflange g2, with the`central slideplate D,\having side projections g, tocarry slide backward by pressure thereon, substantially as specified..

5. The combination of guided spring-plate C, having side arms b', withspiral springs b land perforated guide-lugs d ot'. base-plate A,

to secure steady motion of spring-plate, substantially as described.

' FRANZ F. WEISS. Witnesses:

yIEAUL GoEPEL, C. SEDGWIcK.

